San Antonio Independent School District trustees will start working with a search firm this week to identify their next superintendent on an accelerated timeline.
At a Monday meeting, trustees announced WorkTogether Talent Consulting, an Austin-based company, will lead the search. The district will pay about $52,500 to the search firm.
Trustees chose WorkTogether as their search firm because of its willingness to begin the work quickly and its pledge to conduct a “very broad search,” Board Vice President Christina Martinez said.
“Looking at maybe not current sitting superintendents, but also maybe chiefs of academics somewhere, or deputy superintendents,” Martinez said. “Looking at all levels to find the next leader.”
Over the weekend, trustees met and discussed what they would like to see in a new leader. The board said it hopes to find someone who would reflect the values of district community members, introduce rigorous curriculum to classrooms and boost academic performance. On Monday, longtime board member Ed Garza said he would also like the district to consult with the Texas Education Agency as it selects its next leader.
The two-and-a-half-month search timeline is more compressed than the most recent SAISD search that ended with Aquino’s hiring.
While trustees lauded WorkTogether’s commitment to conduct a broad search, a pair of district principals asked Monday that the next superintendent come from within SAISD.
“An internal candidate offers a distinct advantage: they know our campuses by name and need,” Brackenridge High School Principal Mandie Holtsford-Suarez said. “As a principal on the front lines, I see firsthand what is working. I respectfully urge the board to prioritize an internal candidate.”
Fellow school leader Jennifer Zavala, principal of Longfellow Elementary, echoed Holtsford-Suarez’s request.
“The ability to listen, advocate and build trust across diverse groups is essential to sustain this progress,” Zavala said. “Hiring internally will strengthen that connection, ensuring our families feel seen, heard and included in the life of the district.”
Trustees plan to gather feedback on what SAISD families and community members hope to see in the school system’s next leader. Martinez said the district will host listening sessions, community events and online forums to engage with the community.